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Patience is going to be the tested among motorists in Windsor and across northern Colorado on Saturday morning as traffic grinds to a halt ahead of the highly-anticipated USA Pro Challenge bike race.

Numerous roads are going to be closed across Windsor’s leg of the 115-mile stage that winds through downtown before heading back toward Loveland, up to Estes Park and eventually to downtown Fort Collins. Police are urging residents who want to watch the race to find alternate ways downtown and across Windsor, including biking and walking or carpooling to designated areas.

Road closures in Windsor will include:

» Main Street/Colo. 392 closed both directions between Interstate 25 and Colo. 257 from 11:15 a.m.-noon

» Fairgrounds Avenue from The Ranch to Colo. 392 from about 11 a.m.-noon

» Windsor’s race route goes down Main Street, right on 3rd Street, left on Walnut Street, right on First Street, right on Eastman Park Drive, left on Seventh Street and down to Crossroads Boulevard before heading back to the west. Closures will be in effect from about 11 a.m. until the 120 riders move through, around noon. No vehicles will be allowed to park on the course, though spectators are encouraged to go anywhere

» Eastbound and westbound U.S. 34 closed at Centerra Parkway in Loveland from noon–12:30 p.m. all the way to Estes Park. U.S. 34 will be closed between Larimer County Road 29 at the entrance to the Big Thompson Canyon and Mall Road in Estes Park from noon-3 p.m. as riders ascend and then come down the Thompson Canyon.

The race then winds along the south and east edges of Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins, up Bingham Hill, down Overland Trail, east on Mulberry Street, north on Loomis Avenue, east on Olive Street, through Old Town and north to Peterson Street before making the final hairpin turn onto west Mountain Avenue to finish near College Avenue.

A chunk of Mountain Avenue and other streets near Old Town in Fort Collins will begin closing on Friday evening in preparation for the finishing festivities. Likewise, some access to the dams near Horsetooth Reservoir will be closing later Friday night, and spectators will only be allowed to ride or hike up to watch the race. College Avenue in Fort Collins will be closed from Mulberry to Laporte beginning at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and lasting until about 6 p.m.

Race organizers are encouraging residents to turn out in droves, wear costumes and bring noisemakers. Windsor officials will also be dolling out swag to race spectators, mostly near the sprint section of the race at the intersection of 5th and Main streets. For additional guidelines or information about spectating, go to www.windsorgov.com or www.nococycling.com.